Resource Management Act 1991

Resource consents - Duration of consent

123: Duration of consent

You could also call this:

"How long your resource consent lasts"

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

You get a consent for a certain time. This time can be unlimited or a set number of years. It depends on the type of consent you have. You can get a coastal permit or a land use consent for a reclamation with no time limit. This is unless the consent says otherwise. Some resource consents are granted for 35 years. This includes consents for activities that meet wastewater or stormwater standards. Other consents have different time limits. They can be unlimited or up to 35 years. You can extend the time limit of some consents. This is explained in section 139C for extant wastewater consents, as defined in section 139B. The time limit for your consent is set when it is granted. It can be found in the consent document. If you have a coastal permit or a land use consent that would otherwise contravene section 13, the time limit is set in the consent. If no time limit is set, it is 5 years from when the consent starts, as explained in section 116. Other resource consents have a time limit set in the consent. If no time limit is set, it is 5 years from when the consent starts, as explained in section 116.

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This page was last updated on 28 October 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM235205.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningEnvironment and resources > ConservationHousing and property > Land use

122A: Resource consent prevails over specified instruments, or

"A resource consent is more important than some rules if you got it first."

123A: Duration of consent for aquaculture activities, or

"A coastal permit for fish farming must say how long it lasts, usually between 20 and 35 years."

Part 6Resource consents
Duration of consent

123Duration of consent

Except as provided in section 123A, 123B, 125, or 127B,—
the period for which a coastal permit for a reclamation, or a land use consent in respect of a reclamation that would otherwise contravene section 13, is granted is unlimited, unless otherwise specified in the consent:
the period for which a resource consent for an activity that meets the requirements of a wastewater environmental performance standard or a stormwater environmental performance standard is granted is 35 years:
the period for which a resource consent for a wastewater treatment plant that meets the requirements of an infrastructure design solution is granted is 35 years:
subject to paragraph (c), the period for which any other land use consent, or a subdivision consent, is granted is unlimited, unless otherwise specified in the consent:
the period for which any other coastal permit, or any other land use consent to do something that would otherwise contravene section 13, is granted is such period, not exceeding 35 years, as is specified in the consent and if no such period is specified, is 5 years from the date of commencement of the consent under section 116:
the period for which any other resource consent is granted is the period (not exceeding 35 years from the date of granting) specified in the consent and, if no such period is specified, is 5 years from the date of commencement of the consent under section 116.

Despite anything in subsection (1), the period of an extant wastewater consent (as defined in section 139B), may be extended as specified in section 139C.

Notes

Section 123(1): amended, on 21 August 2025, by section 44 of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).
Section 123(1)(aa): inserted, on 27 August 2025, by section 89(1) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
Section 123(1)(ab): inserted, on 27 August 2025, by section 89(1) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
Section 123(2): inserted, on 27 August 2025, by section 89(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).